newbie brake question

[potoole]

How do I tell what kind of brake system/axle my new to me 2015 Airstream Sport 16 has. There is a brake away box with a red coil wire and it has the 7-pin trailer lights connector.

Can I assume that I have eclectic brakes or it there such a thing and brake away emergency brakes only?

Thank you in advance for advice!

Phillip

[tbrowne]

The trailer should be equipped with electric brakes - that's how they come from the factory. Pull the breakaway cord out of the switch and you should be able to hear the magnets click when they activate. Put the cord back so you don't burn up the magnets and discharge the battery. Breakaway switches are meant to be replaced every five to seven years, so if you don't hear the magnets click you might need a new switch. If you really want to test the brakes, jack up one wheel, pull the breakaway switch and try to turn the wheel. It should move a little and then stop as the brakes grab hold.

[Action]

The 7 pin connector means you have electric brakes.

If you did not have electric brakes the trailer connector would only have 4 pins.

Action

[potoole]

Thank you for the quick reply. The seller did not know how their system worked and I didn't want to correct them. I pretty much knew that the system had electric brakes, but they insisted that it did not. Maybe they didn't have a brake controller installed in their tow vehicle.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Any trailer the size of a 16' made after the early 1960's has some sort of braking system on it. Hydraulic was an option "way back". That hasn't been done for many decades. Electric brakes are the only other likely choice.

Bob

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by potoole

How do I tell what kind of brake system/axle my new to me 2015 Airstream Sport 16 has. There is a brake away box with a red coil wire and it has the 7-pin trailer lights connector.

Can I assume that I have eclectic brakes or it there such a thing and brake away emergency brakes only?

Thank you in advance for advice!

Phillip

As mentioned by the folks above, the Owner's Manual for a 2015 Sport confirms they are electric brakes. They are described on page 7-2; see attached. They require an electronic brake controller in the tow vehicle to operate properly through the 7-way connection. The breakaway switch (red coil) activates them in the event of trailer separation.

If they trailer didn't come with the Owners Manual, the link is below:

https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...manual-261.pdf

[ROBERT CROSS]

Red coil wire... Not a fan...just make sure it's not too long.
You want the trailer brakes engaging when the safety chains are fully extended , not when the he trailer is rolling free down the road.

Bob
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